Kerria plant named ‘Shandale’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kerria  plant named ‘Shandale’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; suitable for container production; relatively vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; green and white variegated foliage; dark yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Kerria japonica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SHANDALE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kerria plant, botanically known as Kerria japonica and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Shandale’.

The new Kerria plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Kerria japonica ‘Shannon’, not patented. The new Kerria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June, 2003 on a single plant of ‘Shannon’ within a population of plants of ‘Shannon’ in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Grand Haven, Mich. The new Kerria plant was selected on the basis of its variegated foliage.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kerria plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since May, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Kerria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kerria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Shandale’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Shandale’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kerria:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit; suitable for container production.     -   2. Relatively vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Green and white variegated foliage.     -   5. Dark yellow-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Kerria can be compared to plants of the parent, ‘Shannon’. Plants of the new Kerria differ from plants of ‘Shannon’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kerria are more compact than plants of         ‘Shannon’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kerria have variegated leaves whereas         plants of ‘Shannon’ do not have variegated leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Kerria have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Shannon’.

Plants of the new Kerria can be compared to plants of the Kerria japonica ‘Picta’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Kerria differed from plants of ‘Picta’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kerria were more compact and mounding than         plants of ‘Picta’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kerria were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Picta’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kerria had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Picta’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kerria plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kerria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Shandale’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘Shandale’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower and leaves of ‘Shandale’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kerria japonica ‘Shandale’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of product of Kerria     japonica ‘Shannon’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; compact,             upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit;             vigorous growth habit; dense and bushy plant form.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with numerous             primary lateral branches; pinching (removal of terminal             apices) will enhance lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 40 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A;             towards the margins, close to 155A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 144B; towards the margins, close to 155A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; towards             the margin, close to 155A; venation, close to 137A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D; towards the             margins, close to 155A; venation, close to 137D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single stellar flowers;             flowers terminal or axillary; freely flowering habit;             flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last for about three to four weeks             on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering during May             and June and sporadically throughout the summer in Grand             Haven, Mich.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape:             Ovoid. Color: Close to 14A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Single whorl of five. Length:             About 1 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong to elliptical.             Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; silky. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 14A. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 14A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 14B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Single whorl of five. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 146D; towards the margins, close to 158B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:             About 100. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 14D. Amount of pollen: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower:             Five. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Style length: About 2.5 mm.             Stigma appearance: Globular. Stigma color: Close to 14B.             Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Kerria have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −20C to about 37° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kerria have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Kerria. 

1. A new and distinct Kerria plant named ‘Shandale’ as illustrated and described. 